The 5 questions: How do you
inspire your children to learn a 2nd language?
Profile:
Sofia with her son Atu (Santiago, 7)
Location:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Native
language of Sofia and her son: Spanish
Languages learned: English & Japanese
1. What is your favorite activity
that helps your son learn a 2nd language?
One
of my favorite activities is drawing cards on paper, that I glue onto cardboard
(from cereal boxes). Cards have specific vocabulary (kitchen items, rooms, means of transport, clothes, animals, etc.). My son Atu colors them and we begin talking about the card, naming it,
etc. Once we finished coloring, we play memory games or just pick a card from the
deck. If Atu says it right, he can take the card and by the end of the game,
the one with more cards wins.
Atu
and his father practice Aikido (Japanese martial art) and they are both
learning Japanese: from etiquette terms when entering the tatami at the
beginning of practice, saying thank you, to Aikido moves. This inspired us to learn
about Japanese culture, food, places and mangas. Watching Ghibli Studio’s films
is a good option too because they speak in a very clear Japanese (even I can
catch some words in their dialogues!).
The
good thing about Japanese is that I don’t know much at all about it. My son
teaches me words and phrases, which make him internalize that language even
more. Letting him be my teacher makes him feel good while learning.
2. What is a helpful tool
or technology you use?
Having
and iPod, tablet or computer, is helpful to show him videos or play online games
(crossword puzzles, hidden object games…), storytelling sites, etc.
I also have some Winnie the Pooh tapes I got at a yard sale (yes,
cassette tapes… vintage technology indeed!) with poems and short stories in perfect English. Listening to those rhymes is delightful, it is music to our ears!
